Cutting machine knife sharpener and standard protector



June 7, 1938. ASHMAN 2,119,769

CUTTING MACHINE KNIFE SHARPBNER AND STANDARD PRDTECTOR Filed June 4,1957 2 Sheets-Sheefl OH We BEENHED flsHMfl/v.

June 7, 1938. a HMAN 2,119,769

CUTTING MACHINE KNIFE-SHARPENER AND STANDARD PROTECTOR :1 I xpc wic n[3/] v/ D BEEN/4E0 Ash MAN.

Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES CUTTING MACHINE KNIFE SHARPENER ANDSTANDARD PROTECTOR David Bernard Ashman, Baltimore, Md. v ApplicationJune 4, 1937, Serial No. 146,393

4 Claims This invention refers to sharpening devices for cloth cuttingmachines having straight knife blades. It has among its objects toprovide a sharpener of this type that may be placed against the supportstandard and the knife blade without removing same from their positionson the table; that will not interfere with the movement of the knifeblade or obstruct the view of the operator in regard to the operativeparts of the machine and sharpener; that will be adjustable in manyvariable and desirable ways; will be substantial and protective inregard to the user and the machine, and will be so provided that extrasharpening stones may be placed convenient to the user, and the device.Other objects will become apparent as the invention is'more fully setforth.

It has been customary to sharpen the straight blades of many clothcutting machines by removing same or utilizing a hone held in the handof the operator. This method of sharpening frequently causes impropersharpening and damage to the structure of the machine. The damage is Icaused by the rubbing of the hone or stone against 5 the surface of thecutting machine structure. In

this device the stones of the same, used for sharpening, are definitelyand positively located out of the way and come only in contact with theknife blade, in a manner that is predetermined to suit the cutting edgeto be provided. It is brought against the cutting machine in its normalposition and slides around the standard with its base slotted in such amanner as to keep it out of the line of travel of the blade and therebynot obstruct the latter or cause its breakage.

In the construction indicated in the drawmgs:

Figure 1 represents a plan View of a sharpening device embodying thisinvention mounted about a straight-knife cutting machine,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of Figure 1, partly in section.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout thedrawings.

In the drawings, i represents a conventional type of cutting table, onwhich a straight-knife cloth cutter throw plate 2 is mounted'with itscutting blade 3. The cutter blade or knife re- 50 ciprocates in theguide slot 4 and a support standard 5, being operated in theconventional manner by the motor and connections ID. The supportstandard has a suitable rounded back 6 that is enlarged to strengthenand stiffen it. A base plate I is provided for the sharpening devicehaving a U-shaped slot 8 arranged to fit closely around theback 6, andwith its mouth portion 9 fanned outwardly to avoid interfering with themovement of the knife blade 3 of the cutting machine. The base plate ispreferably formed as indicated in the drawings, with its peripheralportion ll, quasi-circular in form and provided with anup- Wardlyprojecting ridge l2. A hollow triangular back frame I3 is mounted on theupper surface plane of the base plate I, and has its apex portion I4arranged at I5, to take the rear surface N5 of a back holding member IT.This member is provided with a front groove l8 that fits the backportion of the support standard as indicated in the drawings. Screws l9,suitably placed secure the member to the apex portion. The member I! ismade high enough to reach the under surface of the element 22 thatsupports the motor for operating the cutter. This distance willvary tosuit a cutter machine intended for shear Work, general work; highlayers; flannelettes; and burlap bags, as the case may be. A suitablenumber of supporting columns 23 are provided on the base plate,positioned as indicated on the drawings, serving as journal members forarms 24, which adjustably hold the manipulators. The manipulatorsconsist of plungers 26 that can be adjustably reciprocated in the arms24 to suit the knife to be sharpened.

A three-member body is attached to the plunger 2B, in each case, andconsists of a sharpening stone holder 21, a positioning rod 28, and ahandle 29. The holder 21 is formed at 30 to receive a sharpening stone,which is clamped securely in place by a flat plate 3|, through the useof screws 32. The rod 28 is integral with the plunger 26 and rests onthe surface of the base plate and may be given a tilting movementthereon by reason of the rounded portion 25. The handle 29, screw 31 isconnected with the plunger 26-by a central shaft 33, passing through ahole 34 in the latter, and turns the holder 21 in unison with itsmovement, through the same shaft 33, which connects and holds both insame relative positions on the plunger 26. The plunger member 26 hasprongs 35 projecting from it, that limit the turning movements of thehandle 29 and holder 21, and in addition is split in the middle at 36 topermit adjustment in a horizontal plane, as indicated. Screws 3'! andslots 38 are provided for this adjustment. A spring 39 is mounted on,and attached at 20, to the base plate and connected 'with its respectivearm 24, serving normally to keep the parts connected with the latteraway from the knife of the cutter machine and against the ridge l2. Theoperation of the device will explain the functions of the partsadequately.

In the use of the device, the sharpening stones are clamped in thesupports at 30 by the flat plates 3| and positioned against the sides ofthe knife to be sharpened by adjusting the plunger members 26, at theirmiddle sections 36 to suit the angular cut to be made on the knifeedges. This provides a permanent angle for grinding the knife.

The plunger is then extended or inserted suitably in the arm 24 andclamped in this position angular plane with respect to the knife andtherefore grind off a uniform edge; but being twisted or rotated withinthe limits arranged for, sharpen the knife uniformly. The handles areunder the stress of the springs at all times, tending to bring them awayfrom the knife being ground, when the operator releases the manualpressure forcing them close to the knife. This gives a more sensitivegrinding action and prevents the stones from scoring and being in theway of the knife, unless positively kept there by the operator. Thestone holder is so arranged that the stones may be quickly replaced orturned in it, enabling it to make maximum use of their surfaces andmaterial.

The triangular form of the back frame l3 enables the device to be placedwith the hand, easily on or off the cutter, and its hollow centralportion to hold stones-or tools to be used with it. The holes areprovided for the convenience of the operator, to lift the device. Thesides of the triangular back frame l3 permit the operator to layadditional stones flat against same and hold them by hand at the mostusable angle desired against the knife, and alsoutilize the holes 40 forthe insertion of his fingers in getting a strong grip on the stones. Thebottom of the knife, also known as its lower portion, may bespecifically sharpened by tilting the stone holders suitably, so thatthe stones come into contact with same at an angle vertically acute tothat of the knife surface.

While but one form of the invention is shown in the drawings, it is notdesired to limit this application for patent to the particular formindicated, except as limited by the priorart, as it is appreciated thatother forms of construction might be used, employing the same principlesand coming within the scope of the appended claims. 7

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is l. A device ofthe class described comprising in combination, a base plate adapted torest on a cutter machine table, and having its front portion arrangedwith a fan-like-opening to permit the baseto be fitted againstthesupportstandard of the cutter machine and out of the travel of theknife thereof, a column member mounted on the base plate, an arm pivotedon the said member, a plunger adjustably secured in the arm, a holderattached to the plunger and adapted to be positioned adjustably invariable planes with respect thereto, a supporting stem for the holderarranged to support same in variable angles longitudinally andtransversely with respect to the cutting edges of said knife, a handlein the holder having an enlarged winged body, a stone support in theholder connected with the stem and the handle, the handle being arrangedfor manual manipulation of the stone support.

2. A device of the class described comprising in combination, a baseplate adapted to rest on a cutter machine table, and having its frontportion arranged with a fan-like opening to permit the base to be fittedagainst the. support standard of the cutter machine and out of thetravel of the knife thereof, a column member mounted on the base plate,an arm pivoted on the said member, a plunger adjustably secured in thearm, a holder attached to the plunger and adapted to be positionedadjustably in variableplanes with respect thereto a supporting stem forthe holder arranged to support same in variable angles, a

of travel of its knife, columns mounted on the base-plate, armsjournalled on the columns, plungers adjustably attached to the arms andprovided with movable sections to permit them to be adjustably arrangedthereon, a plurality of stone holders attached to the plungers andadapted to be variably positioned thereon, means for controlling themovement of the plungers to and from the knife and location and positionof the stone holders in relation thereto, and re silient means fornormally positioning the holders and arms in predetermined locations,and

means for retaining the .base plate to the cutter machine in rigidrelation thereto sharpening means in the stone holders, adapted to bepositioned by the said parts hereinbefore mentioned to provide alongitudinal cutting edge and a transverse cutting edge on'said knife.

4. A sharpening device for the knife means of a cloth cutting device,comprising in combination,

a base adapted to rest on said device, an arm 3 mounted on said base, anarm rotatable :to and from the longitudinal plane of said knife means,

a plunger in said arm adapted to permit reciprocating and rotatingmovements therein, prongs on the said arm, a holder attached to theplunger and limited in its movement by said rongs, adjustment means inthe plunger to permit the adjustment of the holder angularly withrespect to-the axis of the plunger, sharpening means in the holderadapted to sharpen the knife means on its cutting edges arranged indivers planes by the rotation of the plunger aforesaid and said.adjustmentmeans, and the said arm.

DAVID BERNARD ASHMAN.

